Festival Events

2017 WildWings Festival Event Listing

WildWings Festival Launch & Art Exhibition

October 5, 6-10pm

The annual WWNAF Festival launch party is the official kick off to a month of events, activities, hands-on experiences and outdoor learning adventures in the Cowichan Valley as well as the opening reception for the WildWings Art Exhibition, a collection of nature art for sale by Vancouver Island artists. Join us at Just Jakes Restaurant for an evening of original art with a first option to buy, gourmet bites, a tasting of WildWings ale, jazz music, a live art auction and 50/50. A Savour Cowichan Marquee event!

Tour Somenos Marsh with Cowichan Tribes member Tim Kulchyski and learn the history and cultural significance of Somenos Marsh in regards to Cowichan Tribes and First Nations from the surrounding areas prior to European contact. The presentation includes a 1.5 hour walk at the Open Air Classroom and board-walk that meanders through Somenos Marsh.

Celebrate Somenos is an annual event that invites the community to the Somenos Marsh Open Air Classroom and Boardwalk to learn about its unique ecosystems from local nature interpreters. Kids can get a Swamp Stampcard and enter to win an awesome prize pack!

Meet at 8am behind the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre on Sunday, September 8 for about an hour of identifying and counting coastal water birds. This is an opportunity to sharpen your skills, enjoy the estuary, and socialize. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars if you have them.

Bring your own canoe, kayak or electric-powered boat and join the Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society Program Manager on a short journey to the center of Somenos Lake. Learn about what the Society is doing to keep the pulse on the ever alarming water quality issues in the Valley and how you can get involved!

Stroll through Bright Angel Park with Cowichan First Nations Medicine Women, Della Rice-Sylvester and gain a deeper understanding of wild medicinal and edible plants that grow in our local forests.

$20 for Adults, Children Free

Tickets available at http://medicine-walk.eventbrite.ca or register by phone by contacting Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society Program Manager, Elizabeth Bailey at (250) 884-0749

Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre Movie Night

October 12, 7pm

Drop by the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre and watch THE MESSENGER documentary and join in on a discussion afterwards for reflection. “THE MESSENGER explores our deep-seated connection to birds and warns that the uncertain fate of songbirds might mirror our own. Moving from the northern reaches of the Boreal Forest to the base of Mount Ararat in Turkey to the streets of New York, THE MESSENGER brings us face-to-face with a remarkable variety of human-made perils that have devastated thrushes, warblers, orioles, tanagers, grosbeaks and many other airborne music-makers.”

Spend the afternoon with Jared “Qwustenuxun” Williams as he talks about the traditional cooking method known modernly as ”Salmon Barbeque,” or traditionally as Pi’kwun. Qwustenuxun will also showcase several of his traditionally harvested teas and talk about their importance and usage. Once the salmon is cooked all workshop participants will get to enjoy some of the freshly cooked salmon and sample some of the traditional teas.

Do you like to get your hands dirty? Do you want to learn more about native plants and the benefits they provide? If yes, then you should come to this event! The Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society is teaming up with Saanich Native Plants to host this informative and fun work party. Treats and coffee are on us!

Cowichan Valley Naturalists Society’s Evening Program will feature PhD student and Vanier Scholar Danielle Claar who will discuss the biology of coral reefs. Join in for an evening of interesting discussion!

FREE EVENT

NatureKids Explorer Day

October 22, 1-3pm

Explorer Days are nature-related outings organized by each club’s volunteer leader(s). Most clubs have Explorer Days once a month. For some Explorer Days, you may build nets and go pond dipping for aquatic insects; on others, you may go explore a local tide pool, learn about mushrooms in a forest, paint, or go bird watching. Join this event to learn more about mushrooms at Lake Cowichan with a Mushroom Walk/Talk.

Grab your friends and your sense of humour and spend two hours drinking, laughing, and flexing your creative muscles. Paint Nite is all about getting creativity flowing in a FUN, low-stress environment. We lead step-by-step instructions on how to create a simple yet beautiful painting over two hours – no experience needed. We supply all the materials. Together, we can raise money by inviting the community to paint, laugh, and socialize (because giving back should feel good). Chief Fun Officer Ginja Lion encourages people to enjoy the process of exploring their-own creative expression. Art is for everyone!

The Cowichan Watershed Board’s monthly Speaker Series offers free public lectures on topics about the health and sustainability of the Cowichan Watershed and surrounding areas on the 4th Thursday of every month at 7pm. This special lecture focuses on groundwater and features speaker, Tom Gleeson. All lectures take place in the Vancouver Island University Cowichan Campus lecture hall.

FREE EVENT

Backyard Biodiversity Seminar at Dinter Nursery

October 28, 10-11am

Dinter Nursery, 2205 Phipps Rd

The biologists of Saanich Native Plants will wow you with what you can do in your own backyard to attract native pollinators, provide habitat and beautify, all with the amazing native plants that call south-east Vancouver Island home. Learn how and when to select, grow, propagate and more…

Look for new winter arrivals to the Somenos Marsh with local naturalist and longtime birder David Aldcroft. Meet at the Beverly St. dog park and walk along the dike, around the Somenos boardwalk and back. You may glimpse some Trumpeter Swans on their arrival back to their wintering grounds!

Join Warrick Whitehead on a hike to the Koksilah Ancient Trees to see this incredible old growth forest with tall Douglas Firs, up to 800 years old. He will talk about the biology and history of the area and will also provide details of his dream to have the Koksilah Ancient Tree area made into a park. Expect to see birds and other wildlife on the trail to the trees. The hike is 5 kms total on a good but rough trail, wear sturdy shoes, bring raingear, a snack and lunch and water. We’ll have lunch down by the river. A hiking stick would also be a useful thing to have along.